Croydon Council is pleased to announce the forthcoming opening of our new children’s home, designed to provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment for young people in the borough. Developed in partnership with St Christopher’s Fellowship, a long-standing children’s care charity, the home ensures that local children can remain close to their communities rather than being placed far from familiar networks. This approach reflects strong evidence that children achieve better outcomes when supported near the people and places they trust.

The home will primarily offer short to medium term support, working with children, their families and the Team Around the Child to help prevent long term care involvement wherever possible. The aim is to reintegrate young people back home or into local foster care when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

A central feature of the project has been its co production with Croydon’s Youth Ambassadors, care experienced young people who shaped the vision, design and feel of the home. Their contributions influenced decisions from the service provider to décor and affirmations displayed throughout the space. One Youth Ambassador noted that the home reflects "exactly what they asked for", emphasising a sense of belonging, self-worth and positive identity for residents.

Senior leaders across Children, Young People & Education have praised the project as a significant milestone. The provision represents an important step in Croydon’s transformation programme, which focuses on improving practice, strengthening local services, managing demand and achieving better outcomes for children while remaining financially sustainable.

The home has been made possible through Department for Education funding, supporting local authorities to create new residential provision amid national shortages in high quality placements. By converting an existing property, Croydon has increased local capacity for children with complex needs and invested in a service designed to help young people flourish.

The partnership with St Christopher’s reflects a shared commitment to excellent care, stability and improved outcomes, ensuring the home is a place where children feel safe, valued and able to thrive.